Bottle-capping machine.



Patentedfeb. 25, |902. R. FLANIGAN.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

(Application led Jgne 15, 1901.)

3 Sheets- Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ITNESSE s INVEN Ton N A T TOBNE Y TH: mams Pneus co. Pum'mmo.. wAsmNsToN. n. cv

Patented Feb. 25, |902.

3 sheets-.sheet 2.

H. FLANIGAN.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. (Applicmon med June 15,1901.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOB ATTORNEY.

R. FLANIGAN.

Patented Feb. 25, l902.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.,

(No Model.)

Wzl-NE 551:5

(Application led June 15, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

NVENTOR 'ATT OHNE? UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

RGBERT FLANIGAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECHIGACLION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,144, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed June 15l 1901. Serial No. 64,688. (No model.)

To @ZZ wtrmt it hay concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT FLANIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle- Capping Machines, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle-capping machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient machine for placing caps upon bottles for the purpose of hermetically sealing the latter and to also provide means for automatically feeding the caps to the machine.

The invention consists of the new and novel parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine, partly in section, and showing the automatic feeding mechanism in its normal position. Fig. 3 is a detailed View, partly in section, of the automatic feeding mechanism, showing the position of the parts when feeding a cap to the machine. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the feeding mechanism, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the magazine for holding the caps, andFig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the head for holding the cap in position on the bottle and the tool for spinning the said cap upon the bottle.

Similar numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, 1 designates an upright or column fixed to a base 2. To the upper end of the column 1 is journaled a horizontal shaft 3, having a pulley 4. on one end, to which power is transmitted from any suitable source for the purpose of driving said shaft 3. To the opposite end of said shaft 3 is fixed the gear 5, which meshes with the gear 6. The gear Gis provided with an integral hub 7, which latter is splined to the shaft 8 and is journaled in the laterally-projecting upper end ,of the column 1.

The shaft S projects downwardly at right angles to the shaft 3 and is also journaled in a Sleeve 9 which meer' is rigidly fixed in the laterally-projecting arm 10. Above the fixed sleeve 9 the shaft S is provided with a fixed collar 11, which latter is held to the shaft S by the pin 12. Between the collar 1l and the fixed sleeve 9 are ball-bearings 1.3,upon which the collar 1l revolves when the shaft S is in itsnormal position. To the upper end of the sleeve 9 is screw-threaded a second sleeve 14, which extends up above the collar 11. To the upper end of this sleeve 14E is screw-threaded an adjustable cap 15 fo.1 the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring 16. Surrounding the shaft 8 is a coiled spring 16, having its upper end impinging against the cap 15 and the lower end resting upon the washer 17. Between said washer 17 and the collar 11 are ball-bearings 18, against which the collar revolves when the shaft S is forced upward against the tension of the spring 16. The sleeve 14 and the cap 15 completely inclose the ball-bearings 13 and 18 and also the spring 16 and prevents dust and dirt from coming in contact with these parts. The tension of the spring 16 may be 4increased or diminished by adjusting the cap 15 upon the sleeve 14. To the lower end of the fixed sleeve 9 is an adjustable cam 19 for a purpose which will presently appear. On the said shaft S, below the cam 19, is a fixed collar 20 to limit the upward movement of the said shaft 8. Between the collar 2O and the cam 19 are ball-bearings, which come into action when forced upward against the cam 19. To

the lower end of the shaft Sis secured afixed head 21, which latter is provided with a tapering stem 22, as seen in Fig. 6, which is forced up int-o the end of the shaft 8 and has its upper end square, as at 23, to prevent turning in said shaft. Revolubly secured in the lower end of the fixedhead 2l is an aux- IOO and extending slightlj7 below the auxiliary head 24 is a slotted spring 29, which holds the cap in position to be spun on the bottle when vplaced therein by the automat-ic feeder,l as will presently appear. Secured to the fixed head 21 is al transverse rod 30, to one end of which latter is a lever 3l, fulcrumed at'32, and to the other end is secured acounterweight 33, held thereto by a set-screw 34. The lever 31 carries a spinning-tool 35 at its lower end and has its upper end beveled at 36. When the shaft 8 is forced up against the tension of the spring 16, the beveled end 36 of the lever 31 comes into contact with the cam 19 and forces the upper end of the lever 3l outwardly and the lower end inwardly, causing the spinning-tool 35 to come into contact withtlie lower edge of the cap and spin the same upon the neck of the bottle and hermetically seal the latter.

Secured to the column 1 by the bolts 37 is a laterally-projecting bracket 38. Adjustablymounted in the end of the said bracket 3S is a table or seat 39, upon which the bottle 40 rests. A treadle 41, pivoted at 89 to the base 2, is provided for moving the said table or seat 39 up and down. Motion is transmitted from the said treadle 41 to the seat 39 through the medium of the rods 42 and 43, the bell-crank lever 44, and the toggle 45, which latter is secured 'to the lower end of the said table or seat 39. The bellcrank lever 44 is fulcrumed to the arm 46. The treadle 41 and table 39 will be returned to their normal position by the spring 90.

The description up to this point has reference to the machine proper. Iwill now proceed to describe the automatic feeding mechanism and the operation of same.

To the column 1 is secured an outwardly and upwardly projecting arm 47, to the upper end of which is secured a magazine48 for the reception of lthe caps 49 and having an opening 50 in its bottom and an opening 51 in the front thereof. Within the magazine 48 is a false bottom or agitator 52, pivoted at 53 and provided with a pin 54, projecting through the opening 50 in the bottom of the magazine. Secured to the front of the magazine in line with the opening 51 is a throat or guide 55, into which one cap at a time is permitted to pass. Pivoted to the under side of the guide 55 at 56 is a lever 57, provided with Apins 58 and 59, which work in the guide 55 alternately to permit but one cap at a time to enter said guide, and also a pin 60, against which the upper end of the race 61 impinges when in the position shown in Fig. 3. Extending downwardly from the said guide 55 is a rod 62, to the lower end of which latter is pivoted the rock-arm 63. A rod 64 connects the upper end of the rock-arm 63 with the pin 54 for the purpose of reciprocating the agitator 52 when the said arm 63 is rocked. Tothe lower end of the rock-arm 63 is pivoted the rod 65, which latter has its opposite end pivoted to the race 61' at 66. To the race 61 is fixed a cross-bar 67, which latter has one end pivoted tothe adjustable collar 68 and the opposite end pivoted to the rod 69. Projecting from the under surface of the race 6l is alug 70, to which is pivoted the lever 7l. Within the lower end of the race v61 is a plunger 72, the lower end of which projects through the bottom of the race 61. The upper end of the said plunger 72 is provided with a head 73, which normally rests in the recess 74 and is flush with the bottom of the said race. From the periphery of the head 73 a pin 75 projects downwardly through said race to prevent the cap from falling under said head when the plungeris in the position shown in Fig. 3. This plunger 72 is held to its normal position by the spring 76. The arm 47 is provided on one side with a perforated boss 77, through which projects the vertical rod 78, the said rod being held in position by a set-screw 79. Secured to the vertical rod 78 below the arm 47 isan adjustable stop 80, held in position by a set-screw 31 and provided with a laterally projecting pin 82, against which the lever 7l impinges when the parts are in position shown in Fig. 3. To the lower end of the vertical rod 78 is an adjustable collar 83, held to said rod bya set-screw 84. Pivoted to the collar 33 is a horizontal rod S5, which latter has its rear end pivoted to the rod 69. The front end of the rod S5 isA provided with a trip S6, pivoted at 87 and which normally rests upon the pin 88.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Motion is transmitted to the shaft 8 through the gears 5 and 6 and the shaft 3. The said shaft 8 is revolving at all times. A cap having been placed up against the auxiliary head 24 and held thereto by the spring'29, a bottle is then placed in position on the table or seat 39 and the treadle forced downwardly, whereby motion will be transmitted through the rods 42 and 43, hell-crank lever 44, and the toggle 45 to the said seat, forcing the latter upward, carrying with it the bottle to which the cap is to be secured. The top of the bottle will enter the cap and force the heads 21 and 24 and also the shaft 8 up against the tension of the spring 16. The fixed head 21 will continue to revolve with the shaft 8, but the auxiliary head 24 will remain stationary, as the friction betweep the bottle and the cap will be greater than the friction between the two heads 21 and 24, owing to the ball-bearings between the said heads. When the head 2l is forced upwardly, the lever 3l is carried with it, and when the latter comes, into contact with the cam 19 the upper end of the lever 31 will be forced outwardly and the spinning-tool will be forced in against the lower edge of the cap, and as the spinning-tool is carried around by the head 21 it will spin the said cap tightly around the neck of the bottle and hermetically seal the latter. When the treadle 41 is released and the table or seat 39 returns toits normal position by the action of the spring 90, the said seat 39 comes into IIO contact with the trip S6, forcing the latter down against the pin 8S,`carrying with it the front end of the rod 85, forcing the rod 69 upv in the position shown in, Fig. 3. As the rod 69 is forced upward it in turn forces thefront end of the cross-bar 67 upwardly, which latter, being fixed to the race bl, caused the said race to take the posit-ion shown in Fig. 3. As the lower end of the race 6l is being raised upwardly the rear end of the lever 7l comes into Contact with thepin 82, forcing the front end of the lever 7l upwardly, carrying with it the plunger 72, as shown in Fig. 3, which latter carries with it another cap andforces the said cap into the spring 29 ready for the next bottle. 'As the lower end of the race travels upwardly the upper end is forced down against the pin GO, forcing the pin 5S up into the guide and allowing but one cap to pass into the race. -The said cap is prevented from passing under the head 723 of the plunger 72 by the pin 75. Then the race returns to its normal position, the plunger 72 will be returned to its normal position by the spring 76, with the head 73 resting in the recess 74: ready for another operation. raised from the pin 60, the pin 59 will be forced up in front of the guide 55 and allow but one cap to enter the said guide. As the race 6l is worked up and down an oscillating or reciprocating motion is imparted to the bottom or agitator 52 through the medium of the rock-arm 63 and the rods G-l and G5 to cause the caps to pass into the guide 55. It will be seen that as one cap is being forced into the spring 29 of the machine another cap passes from the guide 5S to therace and rests against the pin 75, and when the race returns to its normal position the cap in the race passes down and rests over the plunger 7 2, with its edges in the recess74, ready to be lifted by said plunger.

I-Iaving thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft; means.

for rotating said shaft; a fixed head secured to the lower end of said shaft; a spinningtool carried by said fixed head; an auxiliary head revolubly secured to the fixed head and having means at its lower end to hold a bottie-cap; and means for automatically feeding the caps to the said auxiliary head, substantially as described.

In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft; means for rotating said shaft a fixed head secured to the lower end of said shaft; a spinningtool carried by said fixed head; an auxiliary head revolublysecured to the fixed head and having means for holding a bottle-cap; and means for forcing the spinning-tool in against the bottle-cap when the shaft is moved upwardly, substantially as described.

3. In a bottle-capping machine, the combi- When the race 6l isV nation of a vertically-movable shaft having a fixed collar thereon; means to rot-ate said shaft; Ya spring surrounding the shaft above the-said collar.; means to change the tension of said spring; a fixed head secured to the lower end of said shaft; a spinning-tool carried by said fixed head; an auxiliary head revolublyY secured to the fixedhead and havingmeansforholdingabottle-cap; and means for automatically feeding the caps to the au iliary head, substantially as described.

et. In a bottle-capping machine, thecombination of a vertically-movable shaft; means to rotate said shaft; a fixed head secured to the lower end of said shaft; a spinning-tool carriedv by the-fixed head; an auxiliary head revolubly secured to the fixed head and having means to hold a bottle-cap thereto; and

a stationary cam which when the shaft is moved upwardly will'force the spinning-tool in against the cap held by the auxiliary head, substantially as described.

5. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft having a fixed collar thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a stationary sleeve surrounding said shaft below' the collar; ball-bearing between the said collar and sleeve; a spring surrounding the shaft above the collar; a verticallyadjustable cap surrounding the shaft above the spring; a cam on the lower end of the said sleeve; a fixed head secured to thelower end of the said shaft; a spinning-tool carried by the said fixed head; and an auxiliary head IOO revolubly secured in the said xed head and having a slotted spring extending around and below said auxiliary head, substantially as described.

6. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft; means for rotating said shaft; a fixed head secured to the lower end of said shaft; a spinningtool carried by said fixed head; an auxiliary head revolubly secured to said fixed head and having means to hold a bottle-cap; a magazine to hold the caps; and means for passing the said caps from the magazine to the auxiliary head one at a time,l substantially as de scribed.

7. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft; means 'IIO for rotating said shaft; a fixed head secured cally-movable bottle-seat below said shaftk and in line therewith; means to operate said" seat to carry the bottle up to the auxiliary head and force the shaft upwardly; a magazine for holding the bottle-caps; and means operated by the vertically-movable seat for' passing the caps one at a time from the maga-- Zine to the auxiliary head, substantially as described.

8. An automatic feeder comprising a magazine having an opening in the front thereof; a guide in line with said opening; an oscillating race havinga recess in the lower end thereof; means to oscillate said race to bring it into communication with the magazine; a plunger normally seated in the recess in said race; and means to force the said plunger upwardly as the race is broughl'J into communication with the magazine, substan tially as described. 9. An automatic feeder comprising amagazine having an opening in the front thereof; a reciprocating bottompivoted in the magazine; an oscillating race; means to oscillate said race to bring it into communication with the magazine; means for reciprocating the bottom in the magazine when the race is oscillating; a plunger in the lower end of the race; and means to force said plunger upwardly as the race is being brought into communication with the magazine,substantially as described.

10. An automatic feeder comprising a magazine having an opening in the front thereof; a guide in front of said opening in the magazine; means to permit but one cap to enter the said guide at a time; an oscillating race; means to oscillate said race to bring it into communication with the magazine; a plunger in said race; and means to force the plunger upwardly as the race is brought in communication with the magazine, substantially as described.

ll. An automatic feeder comprising a niagazine; an oscillating race having a recess in the lower end thereof; means to oscillate said race to bring it into communication with the magazine; a plunger having its head nor. mally seated in the said recess inthe race; aV piu projecting downwardly from the head of said plunger; and means to force the said plunger upwardly when the race is being brought into communication with the magazine, substantially as described.

l2. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of an automatic feeder consisting of a magazine for holding the bottle-caps; an oscillating race; means to oscillate said race to bring it into communication with the magazine; a plunger for passing the cap from the race to the machine; and means to operate the said plunger when the race is being oscillated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FLANIGAN.

Witnesses:

. CHAPIN A. FERGUSON,

GEORGE H. READ. 

